## Chapter 647 – The Scent of Flowers

“So, it’s quite a shame, isn’t it? I finally made up my mind, and they went and ruined everything.”

Copson took a swig of his beer and leaned back in his chair, sounding genuinely disappointed.

“Ah, speaking of which, I heard the Barbarian registered with the Swordsman Guild too? That’s quite unusual. If you know anything, do tell.”
“Uh, I don’t know? It’s been a while since I went. Haven’t shown my face, so I wouldn’t know what’s going on.”

Sorry… it’s all my fault…

Should have gone when you had the money.

But even if Karin closes up shop here, the Swordsman Guild won’t just disappear. Some other skilled person will probably take over the guild building and start their own guild.

The existing members will scatter, but if the new guild leader is competent, they’ll keep registering. Word will spread, and members will gather again. It’s a big city anyway; if such a void appears, someone will definitely fill it.

But will Lisette be in charge of the Martial Artist Guild?

“Hmph, saying you don’t know? You’re just a Barbarian who’s deaf to rumors. Anyway, it’s a shame.”
“Well, the guild won’t disappear. If one disappears, another will pop up.”
“That’s true too.”
“More importantly, are you still throwing money away on gambling these days?”
“Well… actually, the female dealer I had my eye on was secretly running a loan sharking operation on the side, and something must have gone wrong because she ran away. So, I’ve lost my motivation… I don’t feel the need to go to the gambling den anymore.”

A female dealer? Was that the woman I saw with Copson when we went to the gambling den last time?

Anyway, it seems like a good thing for Copson.

“Hehehe, not ‘don’t feel the need,’ you *shouldn’t* feel the need, you crazy bastard. It’s a good thing for you.”
“Hehehe, that’s true too. So, these days, I’m just working. Summer’s coming soon, isn’t it? Monsters are running rampant, so there’s plenty of work, and the money’s piling up.”

I had a simple drink with Copson and caught up on what’s been happening.

Looks like Copson has formed a semi-permanent party. He seems to have made quite a few D-rank companions.

He’s been going out on jobs with the connections he’s steadily built up and earning money. This guy’s actually making a decent living, so if he doesn’t waste his money, he could definitely settle down.

Buying a modest house and living there would be perfect.

“So, when is the Barbarian planning to go to the capital?”
“I think I’ll go sometime this year. I need to prepare a few things.”
“I see… well, you’re quite skilled, so you’ll manage somehow. Last time, you messed it up by going to gamble in the middle of it, but today might really be the last time we see each other.”
“You’re going to stay here anyway, right? If I come this way, we’ll see each other again.”
“Hehehe, I suppose so. Anyway, let’s drink until we pass out today.”

Well, let’s do that.

I answered and ordered more drinks and snacks. As my physical abilities have improved, it’s become rare for me to get drunk. I’d probably get drunk if I chugged something strong, but that’s not going to happen with beer.

Anyway, it seems like Copson is planning to throw me a sort of farewell party. I talked with Copson and drank.

“Kuh… even when you go to the capital…! Don’t forget me! If the Barbarian succeeds, I’ll definitely go to confirm our friendship!”
“Hehehe, you crazy bastard. Well, if I succeed, I’ll buy you a drink when we meet again.”
“That’s very kind of you to say!”

I drank for about half a day.

From the middle on, he became completely hammered and started spouting nonsense. Of course, I couldn’t understand it. The only thing I could make out was that he wanted to see that damn bitch, his first love, back in his hometown.

Copson… are you lonely…?

* * *

Anyway, as usual, I slung the limp Copson over my shoulder, took him to the inn where he was staying, and said goodbye.

This might really be the last time I see this guy. But well, even when we were in Krasheim, there were times when we wouldn’t see each other for months. I’m sure we’ll meet again someday.

I went straight to the Adventurer’s Guild.

I roughly scanned the bulletin board, then went to the counter and asked if there were any jobs I could do. The clerk, as usual, told me about the discovery of an Orc village and the Drakes that have been appearing in various places and causing casualties lately.

All jobs with a difficulty of around D-rank.

With the Orc village, if you gather some people and go, the lord will launch a subjugation if it doesn’t work out. And the Drakes, from what I heard, are wandering around one by one like field mobs. Adventurers should be able to handle that.

Just ordinary D-rank jobs.

But well, I might be D-rank in name, but my actual skills are above C-rank.

I’m confident I could kill a truckload of C-rank adventurers if they ganged up on me. After all, I even sliced up a veteran knight wielding a magic sword, even though he used aura.

So, I asked about jobs that C-ranks could do.
Since that’s the highest-ranked job at the Adventurer’s Guild.

“Hmm… someone as renowned as the Quasi-Priest Katt shouldn’t have any problems. Looking at your record, you’ve solved multiple C-rank quests with a party that included a mage.”

The clerk said, flipping through documents.

“Then let’s see, you wouldn’t be interested in a Kobold Dungeon, would you?”
“Only if it smells like money.”
“I’m not sure about that.”

I’m not particularly interested in Kobold Dungeons.

I don’t want to work in those cramped, dark places. I’d be more interested if an unknown dungeon was discovered.

“Anyway, if you’re not interested, have you heard the rumors about the Lizardmen? Lizardmen movements have been spotted on the outskirts of the city. There’s a bounty of 2 silver on their heads.”
“Lizardmen, you say?”

—Lizardmen.

I’ve heard the name, but I’ve never actually seen one.

I heard they’re bipedal, extremely reptilian bastards. Covered in scales, and they can use tools because they have some intelligence.

They’re monsters that live in tribes, with a similar status to Orcs. If their habitats overlap, they fight each other fiercely. More than anything, the armor made from their scale hides is supposed to be quite good.

In other words, they’re worth money. It’s just inconvenient to skin them and carry the hides.

But the most important thing is that they’re an extremely cruel and violent race. There’s no particular reason; they treat the humans they hunt as food. Inevitably, the entire race is made up of professional serial killers.

Actually, any bastards that eat humans are cruel.

I’ve also heard that they’re quite agile and move flexibly in the forest, making them difficult to deal with. But that doesn’t matter to me now.

“Yes. It’s unknown where the Lizardmen are headed, but according to reports, they seem to be moving towards the jungle that has sprung up near the city.”

The huge jungle that was created by the Alraune in the past is encroaching on the surrounding terrain with its unique, inhuman vitality.

“What, are they going to set up house in the jungle?”
“That’s a possibility. But if not, the villages in their path will be in danger.”
“That’s true too. But what’s the scale?”
“We don’t know the details of that either.”
“Hmm.”

Lizardmen live in tribes, so there will probably be quite a few of them. And those bastards are trying to break down nearby villages and enter the jungle? It would certainly be a good environment for Lizardmen to live in.

Except that Isvant is nearby.

No ruler of any city wants such a monster group to settle in their territory.

“But there’s a human city right next door. Would the Lizardmen really settle down? Those bastards have brains; there’s no way they’d do that.”
“That’s… something I don’t know. Maybe they think the jungle is okay.”
“Well, I understand.”

Who knows what monsters are thinking? We only know that they’re moving.

Adventurers will probably go for the bounty first, and if they can’t handle it, the lord’s soldiers will step in.

Those kinds of monsters that live in tribes should be nipped in the bud as soon as they’re discovered. They’re bastards that threaten the city’s safety, as well as transportation and commerce.

And the physical specs of those monster races are far superior to those of ordinary humans. If their tribe attacks a nearby village, they’ll be helpless.

“If it’s a job with a bounty, there’s no deadline, right?”
“Not yet. And there’s a bounty of 10 silver on the Lizardmen’s command figures.”
“What do you mean by command figures?”
“Their shamans or great warriors. The strongest beings who lead the tribe.”

No problem.

I listened to the clerk’s explanation and went outside. It seems like a job I can do casually. Of course, if I start, I’ll see it through to the end. Let’s just keep it in mind and decide whether to do it or not.

I went straight to the church.

Since I’m out anyway, I should ask the Saintess if she has any jobs for me.

“I am truly delighted that you visit so often, Paladin.”

When I entered the room, Saintess Kadia, who was working, welcomed me. She somehow looked radiant. I didn’t feel the usual fatigue.

“Hehehe, you look quite well today?”
“It’s been quiet lately. Of course, I’ll be tired again when I get back. Until then, it’s not bad to enjoy this fleeting moment of leisure.”

From what she said, it doesn’t seem like there are any jobs.

I mean, I’ve smashed those heretics so many times that they wouldn’t be doing anything conspicuous. They’ve probably gone further underground. The demons that came out of the gate are probably keeping a low profile too.

So, just to have a chat, I told the Saintess about the Lizardmen.

“Lizardmen, you say.”
“Are you familiar with them?”
“They’re monsters with primitive religions. They worship dragons, powerful spirits, or unknown phenomena and magic.”

—Click.

Saintess Kadia, who had taken out a cigarette, began to speak.

“Monsters with such religions are very vulnerable to heresy. If heretics intentionally try to contaminate their faith, it could cause a big problem. Especially in these precarious times.”

Really?

“Actually, the Sasquatch incident… the most important thing is that we destroyed the heretics’ base, so let’s move on. What we’re currently watching is the movements of evil beings and the trends of monsters with such religions.”
“Oh, is that so?”

Even if there’s nothing special, in these precarious times, religious people are spreading out in all directions, maintaining vigilance and investigating.

“If the Paladin is thinking of doing that job, keep in mind what I said. If you find anything useful, you can bring it to me.”

So, it’s just a stage of vigilance for now.

“But if you’re worried about the faith of monsters, why don’t you just have the Holy Knights beat them all to death?”
“There’s nothing revealed yet, so there’s no need to move troops. We can’t neglect vigilance and reconnaissance. More than anything, adventurers and soldiers will take care of the Lizardmen without the Holy Knights having to move. But if the Paladin can create a justification, it would be okay to send the Holy Knights.”

Then well, should I do this as a side job?
It would be good if there was something, and it wouldn’t matter if there wasn’t.

I don’t really think the Lizardmen have colluded with the heretics.

Saintess Kadia doesn’t seem to care much either.

“Yes, I understand. Then if I find anything suspicious, I’ll bring it to you.”
“I always like seeing you so enthusiastic. You’re also excellent in your abilities, and I’m really looking forward to your future activities.”

Saintess Kadia, who had stood up, patted my shoulder with a confident smile.

“Once you go to the capital, there will be a lot of things to make you do, Paladin. I feel relieved to think about entrusting you with the work I haven’t been able to touch until now.”
“Hehehe, just trust me and live in peace.”
“I will.”

Anyway, Saintess Kadia was a bit free, so she made me some tea and we talked for a while. She asked me about this and that, probably because she was bored. I spent some time talking with her and left the church.

Well, Lizardmen would be good for warming up.

Should I kill a few and earn some pocket money?